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Difference between revisions of "Programming ideas for Minicon 44"
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Participants/Panelists: Chas Somdahl (m), Adam Stemple, Graham Leathers, Teresa Chandler.
Participants/Panelists: Chas Somdahl (m), Adam Stemple, Graham Leathers, Teresa Chandler.
Revision as of 13:40, 10 April 2009
- 1 Minicon 44 programming items
- 2 Science
- 2.1 Ask a Scientist
- 2.2 Astronomy with Children
- 2.3 Confessions of an Alien Hunter / Book Signing
- 2.4 Current Trends in Science
- 2.5 First Contact
- 2.6 Intelligent Balloons
- 2.7 SETI Fact vs. Fiction
- 2.8 Secret Underground Physics Labs
- 2.9 Science in the Public Eye
- 2.10 How Antimatter Became a Plaything of Science Fiction
- 3 Art, the Arts, and Craft
- 4 Social Issues, Internet, Fandom
- 5 F/SF Literature and Skiffy concepts
- 5.1 The Works of Karl Schroeder
- 5.2 Steampunk: the Romance of Science
- 5.3 Which singularity is it?
- 5.4 Humor With An Edge: Mixing The Silly With the Profound
- 5.5 Interview & Signing: Author GoH
- 5.6 Breaking into Publishing in the 21st Century
- 5.7 Lady Poetesses from Hell
- 5.8 Vampires and Zombies and Werewolves, Oh, My!
- 5.9 "Careful the Wish You Make . . ."
- 5.10 Adventures For Young Women
- 5.11 The Year in SF/F: What Should I Read Next?
- 5.12 Wikis as Literature
- 5.13 Auntie Jane's Bedtime Stories (with milk & cookies
- 5.14 Rivendell Group Discussion: The works of Adam Stemple
- 6 Writing and publishing
- 7 Media and comics
- 8 Gaming
- 9 Not exactly panels
- 10 Music Programming
Minicon 44 programming items
Okay, it's no longer a brainstorming page. This is the list of scheduled items, subject to only minor changes between now and Minicon.
[Laurel Krahn added times/days and panelists as listed in the program book on Friday afternoon of Minicon 44. Also added music programming items.]
- Links
- Full set of programming Wiki related links (room requirements, planning tips, etc.)
- Sheraton Bloomington room capacities
- Minicon44 home page
- Minicon44 Programming
Ask a Scientist
This panel is always so popular we just have to do it again. If you're a scientist of any type, please volunteer! The participants always have a great time.
Sunday at 2:30pm.
Panelists: Chas Somdahl (m), Matt Strait, Sue Smith, Dave Buth.
Astronomy with Children
Note: this item has a single presenter, not looking for panelists. This class is for parents or teachers looking for easy, cheap astronomy projects to do with children. Topics will include how to create a solar analemma on the ground in a sunny yard or on a ceiling in a sunny room; how to use the wonderful planisphere; and how to find a person's real sun sign; plus various types of telescopes, where to buy telescopes, and where to go for a free astronomy experience. I will also give my take on how to get into amateur astronomy (go to a free star party, join a club, before spending money!) Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.
Saturday at 11:30am.
Panelist: Michael Kauper.
Confessions of an Alien Hunter / Book Signing
Our science GoH discusses his new book and talks about what extraterrestrials might really be like when we finally find them.
Sunday at 1pm.
Panelist: Seth Shostak.
Current Trends in Science
The life of a scientist isn't filled by doing experiments – just as much time, if not more, is spent writing grant proposals to get funding to do those experiments. Part of the trick to getting the money is knowing what buttons to push, what keywords to include. What topics are hot in science right now? Where is the money going? What new avenues of scientific exploration could (or should) be the next big thing?
Friday at 8:30pm.
Panelists: Pat Scaramuzza (m), George Flentke, Sue Smith, Seth Shostak, Chris Beskar.
First Contact
Many depictions of Earth's first contact with alien races rely on the idea that this first message will be transmitted via radio waves and will consist of some easily identifiable mathematical idea, usually prime numbers. But are there other ways that far-off civilizations might choose to communicate to the universe? Are we limited to the electromagnetic spectrum? Are there other messages that might be universally understood?
Saturday at 8:30pm.
Panelists: Kelly Strait (m), Seth Shostak, George Flentke, Ctein.
Intelligent Balloons
Seems like one long-term science fiction meme is intelligent jellyfish-like creatures living in the atmosphere of a Jovian planet. How plausible are such creatures, and why are they such a fixture of xenology?
Saturday at 4pm.
Panelists: Chas Somdahl (m), Rachel Kronick, Mark Richards, Sue Smith.
SETI Fact vs. Fiction
How does the real-world endeavor of SETI compare with how it is portrayed in speculative fiction? Many portrayals of SETI show us a highly dedicated (and maybe slightly obsessed) scientist that the public tends to write off as a little nuts. What is it like to really work for SETI? Do the SF writers get it right? Does the public perception of SETI really match what they do?
Saturday at 4pm.
Panelists: Kelly Strait (m), Seth Shostak, Pat Scaramuzza, Howard Davidson, Michael Kauper.
Secret Underground Physics Labs
What's going on in the old Tower Soudan mine (and why does it look so much like a Half-Life game)? What's this DUSEL thing anyway? What else have scientists hidden under the earth, and what are they doing with it?
Saturday at 5:30pm.
Panelists: Matt Strait (m), Howard Davidson, Bill Higgins.
Science in the Public Eye
Scientists have held a strange iconic place in the popular imagination ever since Mary Shelley introduced us to the Frankenstein Trope in the early 19th century. Alternatively, scientists in the late nineteenth and early 20th centuries were often presented as the ultimate hope of humankind. More recently, the public consciousness has swung back to a demonization of science, with scientists often presented as (at best) amoral and (at worst) agents of the devil. With the Obama presidency will we see a swing back in the other direction?
Saturday at 7pm.
Panelists: LIsa Freitag (m), George Flentke, Sue Smith, Graham Leathers, Mark Richards.
How Antimatter Became a Plaything of Science Fiction
Antimatter, a bizarre family of particles first discovered by physicists in the 1930s, eventually became commonplace in science fiction stories. Bill Higgins traces the path from science to fiction, which passes through astronomy and the study of meteorites before falling into the hands of such SF writers as John Campbell, Robert Heinlein, and Jack Williamson.
Saturday at 1pm.
Panelist/Presenter: Bill Higgins.
Art, the Arts, and Craft
Costuming Roundtable
What sort of costuming-related activities do we want to see at future Minicons? Panels, hall costume awards, a prade, a fashion show, a return of the masquerade . . . something entirely new and fabulous? Please come and join the conversation. Spiffy duds encouraged, but not required.
Sunday at 2pm in the Bar.
Co-hosts: Bonnie Somdahl & Seven.
Popup Books and Paper Engineering
Come and see some resplendent examples of the popup book art form, and learn what goes into the construction of these little masterpieces. We may also throw in a little paper craft fun for everybody - learn a little origami, cut out a snowflake, or make a folded-paper fortune telling machine customized for Minicon.
Friday at 5:30pm.
Panelists: Laura Krentz (m), Jeanne Mealy, Laramie Sassevill, Bonnie Somdahl.
Social Issues, Internet, Fandom
Etiquette for Social Networking
Regardless of platform, awkwardness abounds in online social networks. What situations have we encountered? What methods work in avoiding or dealing with these situations?
Sunday at 1pm.
Panelists: Rachel Kronick (m), Emily Stewart, Emily Alter, Josh More, Alison Sommer.
The Legend of Forry Ackerman
In memoriam for Forrest J. Ackerman, one of the founders of science fiction fandom. This sounds like a good Krushenko's item.
Sunday at 2:30pm.
Panelists: Eric M. Heideman (m), Bill Higgins.
F/SF Literature and Skiffy concepts
The Works of Karl Schroeder
Come and talk with the Author GOH about his work! Sponsored by Second Foundation, an SF-book discussion group. Discussion sponsored by Second Foundation, a Twin Cities book-discussion group that has met regularly since 1983.
Sunday, 11:30am in Krushenko's.
Panelists: Eric M. Heideman (m), Karl Schroeder, John Till, Greg L. Johnson.
Steampunk: the Romance of Science
What is Steampunk? Attitude or merely fashion statement? Or is there something about the buoyant spirit of the late 19th century that speaks to our feelings about technology today? Who else is defining the genre? Check out this incredible video: Steampunk meets Maker Movement.
Saturday at 2:30pm in Krushenko's.
Panelists: Sharon Kahn (m), Karl Schroeder, Richard Mueller, Dorf, Ceridwen Christensen.
Which singularity is it?
SF has dealt more and more with the Singularity, Vernor Vinge's concept of the point beyond which we cannot predict, but which singularity is it? The post-scarcity singularity, when no one has less than they need? The post-scarcity singularity where everyone gets everything they want (an important difference)? Or the one where artificial intelligence is cheap and frequent? Or the one where we all upload ourselves and our intelligences are no longer limited by flesh and blood. Transhumanism is a kind of singularity -- humanity evolving to the next stage, whatever that is -- as are Christian "left behind" narratives. Which singularities seem likely, which ones do we actually hope for, and what does that say about us?
Saturday at 11:30am in Krushenko's.
Panelists: Greg L. Johnson (m), Karl Schroeder, Pat Scaramuzza, Rachel Kronick, Dave Romm.
Humor With An Edge: Mixing The Silly With the Profound
What is it about the writings of humorists (like Terry Pratchett) that allows them to work on controversial issues that other writers won't touch? Does humor give more license for subversion? What about depth? How does humor allow writers to strike deep emotional chords with their readers?
Saturday at 10am in Krushenko's.
Panelists: Michael Merriam (m), Karl Schroeder, Rob Callahan, Greg L. Johnson.
Interview & Signing: Author GoH
Our author Guest of Honor talks about his life and his work. After the interview there will be a book signing in teh same space and a chance to chat one on one with Karl.
Saturday at 7pm.
Panelist: Karl Schroeder, Rick Brignall (interviewer)
Breaking into Publishing in the 21st Century
An update of the perennially popular "Publishing 101" topic. What do you as a new writer need to know to get your big break? How is the process changing with the advent of printing on demand, audio books, and the paperback publishing industry in a state of freefall? Last year's advice on how to break into the business may already be obsolete.
Sunday at 10am.
Panelists: Michael Merriam (m), Karl Scheoder, Scott McCoy, Rob Callahan, Rick Brignall.
Lady Poetesses from Hell
Ruth Berman, Jane Yolen, Elise Matthesen, Cassandra O'Malley, John C. Rezmerski, Eleanor Arnason The Lady Poetesses from Hell write about: Change, Futures, Pasts, Life, Love, Sex, Death, Violence, Manners -- all those volcanic urges. Their joint collection, "Lady Poetesses from Hell," will be published later this year
Saturday at 2:30pm.
Panelists: Ruth Berman, Jane Yolen, Elise Matthesen, K.C. O'Malley, John C. Rezmerski, Eleanor Arnason.
Vampires and Zombies and Werewolves, Oh, My!
The long standing popularity of these three fictional races argues that the stories we tell about them are more than just horror stories to scare children. Is there a cultural reason for this popularity? Can we mine any deep psychological meaning from our interest in these sorts? If vampires are a metaphor for forbidden sexuality (aren't they?), then lets see what we can make of zombies and werewolves.
Saturday at 5:30pm.
Panelists: Lisa Freitag (m), Scott McCoy, Emily Stewart, C.J. Mills.
"Careful the Wish You Make . . ."
The line is from Sondheim's Into the Woods, and is followed by the assertion that "wishes come true, not free." From wishing upon a star to three wishes, we will discuss the techniques, rewards and perils of having one's wishes granted. What would you wish for?
Sunday at 2:30pm.
Panelists: Ruth Berman (m), Jane Yolen, Patricia C. Wrede, Laramie Sasseville, Marissa Lingen.
Adventures For Young Women
Even young women get to kick a lot more butt these days than they used to, but adventure stories for girls are still different from those for boys. We'll discuss both female and male young adventurers, with the goal of discovering directions yet to be taken. Feminism may come up.
Sunday at 1pm
Panelists: Sharon Kahn (m), Jane Yolen, Patricia C. Wrede, Laura Krentz, Dorf
The Year in SF/F: What Should I Read Next?
The usual discussion of the best books and stories of the year. It never gets old!
Saturday at 7pm.
Panelists: Greg L. Johnson (m), Russell Letson, David Lenander.
Wikis as Literature
There's a long history of wonderful worlds presented in a reference or non-fiction format -- Pure setting, no plot. One logical extension of this is for authors to create beautiful multimedia wikis (perhaps by a single author, perhaps by collaborative effort) that people can explore, and maybe even expand, without the encumbrance of a plot or main characters -- would people pay for this? What examples already exist?
Saturday at 2:30pm.
Panelists: Rachel Kronick, Patricia C. Wrede, possibly others TBA.
Acclaimed YA author Jane Yolen reads bedtime stories for all ages. Milk and cookies will be provided.
Saturday at 8:30pm.
Panelist: Jane Yolen.
Rivendell Group Discussion: The works of Adam Stemple
We'll particularly focus on the author's adult fantasy novels Singer of Souls and Steward of Song. Sponsored by The Rivendell Group, a Twin Cities fantasy-book discussion group that has met regularly since 1973.
Saturday at 1pm.
Panelists: David Lenander (m), Adam Stemple (special guest).
Writing and publishing
Note: If you don't see the item you're looking for here, check the "GoH" section at the top. Quite a lot of them got moved up there.
Social Contract: What Negative Emotions is it Okay to Evoke in Your Readers?
How much of a social contract do writers have with their readers? What about making past memories come back painfully?
Sunday at 11:30am.
Panelists: Phyllis Eisenstein (m), Michael Merriam, Rob Callahan, Scott McCoy, Pamela Dean.
How To Not Get Depressed When You Work Alone
There's something about the writer's life. For some reason, people are actually jealous. But working alone at home on your own schedule has its own special challenges.
Saturday at 11:30am.
Panelists: C.J. Mills (m), Rob Callahan, Jane Yolen, Adam Stemple, Rick Brignall.
Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writer's Meetup
Welcome to Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers (a.k.a. MinnSpec)! Come learn about this valuable resource for local aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers.
Saturday at 5:30pm.
Hosted by Michael Merriam.
Media and comics
The Many Faces of Batman
Did Frank Miller go too far when he turned a beloved comics icon into a borderline psycho, or was it a return to Batman's 1939 essence? Was there really any point in Heath Ledger redoing The Joker after Jack Nicholson defined the character in the 1989 movie? Did its sequels channel too much camp from 1966? Does the latest cinematic take on the Dark Knight pull its punches, or correct the balance?
Friday at 4pm.
Panelists: Eric Heideman (m), Richard Tatge, Erica Stark, Lisa Freitag.
Pushing Daisies: what comes next?
While we don't *know* how the story works out, and won't until the three finished episodes are aired and the graphic novel wraps up the story (if these things ever happen), we can certainly speculate. Come prepared to discuss Ned's last name, the fate of Lil Gumshoe, the agelessness of Digby, and all those glorious colors.
Friday at 8:30pm.
Panelists: Karen Cooper, Joe Agee, Aliera Brust.
What's New in Old Comics
Comics publishers have had to look beyond publishing periodicals to maintain their bottom line & have dug into the past to reprint classic material in collected volumes. From Marvel's Masterworks, Omnibus & Essential lines, DC's Showcase, Archive & Absolute lines to Dark Horse's reprinting of Gold Key classics (Magnus Robot Fighter, Doctor Solar, MARS Patrol, Tarzan, et al) and the Warren horror line, find out what's available at a fraction of the cost of the original back issues. Also: Titan Books' 007 newspaper strip collections, Gladstone's EC collections & various Irwin Allen & Gerry Anderson properties, 1960s Star Trek, Conan and more.
Saturday at 1pm.
Panelists: Greg Larsen (m), Steve Kempton, Bob Jackson.
The Convenient Comic Book
Now that publishers are regularly collecting multi-issue story arcs into Trade Paperback & Hardcover editions, it is easier than ever to enjoy comics, without spending time looking for individual issues (& discovering you missed a chapter/issue) or trying to remember what happened last month. If you love comics, but gave up on the frustrating weekly pursuit of "floppies" (comic magazines) and just want to read a good stand-alone story of your favorite heroes with a minimum of confusion, find out which TPBs allow you to do just that.
Saturday at 11:30am.
Panelists: Greg Larsen (m), Steve Kempton, Bob Jackson.
Long Live Number 6!
From the wrap of production for The Prisoner until his until his recent death, Patrick McGoohan said little about his most influential work. Do Ice Station Zebra and the Columbo episode "Identity Crisis" tie in to The Prisoner? Was Number 6 actually Danger Man/Secret Agent John Drake? If so, some episodes of the earlier series reveal clues to the question, "Why did he resign?". Why would McGoohan never tie Number 6 to Drake? The answers may surprise you! Plus, news on the 2009 AMC/ITV mini-series with Jim Caveizel as Number 6 and Ian McKellan as Number 2, adaptations & homages of The Prisoner in books, comics and a place you never expected!
Saturday at 2:30pm.
Panelists: Greg Larsen (m), Steve Kempton, Bob Jackson.
Who Watched The Watchmen?
Obstacles beset Watchmen from the start. When DC acquired Charlton Comics' superheroes & had other plans, Alan Moore's idea to grandly reinvent them as the Watchmen had to be reinvented itself, with new, albeit similar characters. Once filmed, "the graphic novel that could not be filmed" for almost 20 years, saw lawsuits over the movie rights threatening to prevent its release. With no on-going characters, realizing Watchmen on film had one chance only. The final hurdle: Did they get it right?
Friday at 5:30pm.
Panelists: Greg Larsen (m), Eric M. Heideman, Steve Kempton.
The Worlds of Blade Runner
Released the same week as E.T., initially critically and financially trounced, Blade Runner became a cinematic phoenix. While last year's DVD release of The Final Cut closes the book on the original film, we'll enlighten you to films and TV shows similar in theme and look to help relieve your withdrawal.
Friday at 8:30pm.
Panelists: Greg Larsen (m), Eric M. Heideman, Tory Stewart.
Who's Your Doctor?
Calling all Dr. Who fans! Who was your favorite Doctor? Is there one you couldn't stand? Or suggest a different offshoot of of this topic. There's a lot of Dr. Who to choose from out there, and fans seem to have a lot to talk about.
Saturday at 8:30pm.
Panelists: Michael Lee (m), Rob Callahan, Aliera Brust, Corwin Brust.
Science Fiction Westerns
These two film genres go back to the start of narrative film (SF to 1902, Westerns to 1903). What do they have in common and how do they differ? We'll focus especially on such hybrids as Westworld, Outland, Battle Beyond the Stars, Back to the Future III, The Postman, Firefly, and Serenity. Sponsored by Con-Sarnit, the Twin Cities Western convention.
Saturday at 4pm.
Co-moderators: David Christenson & Eric M. Heideman
Dungeons and Dragons for Girls and Boys
Saturday, 1:30 to 3:30 PM East Ballroom A Hosted by Richard Tatge and Michael Kauper
Ages 6 to 17, no experience necessary, must be able to read some. We will provide characters and materials. All new, exiting adventure, featuring a rare appearance by one of the grand masters of role playing games!! Not to be missed!
NOTE: All players must be enrolled in game by parent or responsible adult. No exceptions. We require contact information. Bring snacks, invite friends and family to watch.
The Secret RPG Gamer
A lot of people are into RPGs but don't admit it, or at least aren't forward about it. Why? What's to be done, if anything?
Saturday at 8:30pm.
Panelists: Rachel Kronick (m), John Till.
Info-dumping in RPGs
In RPGs, there's a great deal of exposition to be done. GMs need to explain setting information, and as a player, it can be frustrating when the GM tells you vital information after you needed it. ("What do you mean there's a lever on the wall? Why have we been trying to bust down this door for the past half-hour?") But exposition can become long-winded and tiresome. How do GMs and players strike a balance?
Sunday at 2:30pm.
Panelists: Rachel Kronick (m), John Till.
Not exactly panels
Popup Books and Paper Engineering
Come and see some resplendent examples of the popup book art form, and learn what goes into the construction of these little masterpieces. We may also throw in a little paper craft fun for everybody - learn a little origami, cut out a snowflake, or make a folded-paper fortune telling machine customized for Minicon.
Friday at 5:30pm.
Panelists: Laura Krentz (m), Jeanne Mealy, Laramie Sasseville, Bonnie Somdahl.
I'll Show You Mine if You Show Me Yours
Hey, let's all get together and compare our new mini-laptops, smart phones and whatever other electronic gadgetry we got for Christmas. We can set up our own wireless network right there in the programming room! Does anybody still have one of those cute little Roombas? We could run them through a maze or obstacle course.
Friday at 4pm.
Panelists: Sharon Kahn (m), Dean Gahlon, Laurel Krahn, David Dyer-Bennet.
Music Programming
Jamming 101
What makes a good music jam? What to do and not to do.
Saturday at 2:30pm in the Shipside/Music room.
Participants/Panelists: Chas Somdahl (m), Adam Stemple, Graham Leathers, Teresa Chandler.
Group singalong: song sheets provided or bring your own to share.
Participants: Peggy O'Neill, Elise Matthesen, and a host of others.


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ATLANTA (AP) — A proposal to change Georgia's gun laws would close one loophole potentially allowing mentally ill people to purchase firearms.
Still, state judges are concerned the proposal could open another gap allowing mentally ill people to carry guns.
Federal law prohibits anyone deemed mentally deficient or committed to receive mental health care from buying or keeping a gun. Federal officials use mental health records complied by states to determine whether sales should be permitted.
However, Georgia only tracks records of people who are involuntary hospitalized. It does not track people forced to get out-patient care. That means a database check might not stop someone who is receiving out-patient care from buying a gun.
The new plan would force courts to report all involuntary treatment orders, regardless of where the treatment happens.

subset: commoncrawl


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PONTIAC (AP) -- A Detroit-area man who pleaded no contest to accusations he killed his father in a baseball bat attack that also injured his mother and brother plans to address the court today at sentencing to take responsibility for his actions, according to his lawyer said.
Tucker Cipriano, 20, has crafted a four-page statement he plans to read when he faces family, friends and their supporters on Wednesday in an Oakland County courtroom, defense lawyer Mitchell Ribitwer told the Detroit Free Press.
"He's going to talk about how great his dad was, and how his mom was amazing, how she was there every step of the way for him," said Ribitwer, who has read Cipriano's statement. "How he wishes he had his dad back, and how much he loves his brothers and sister."
Cipriano family members also are expected to speak at the hearing.
Cipriano and Mitchell Young, 21, are expected to be sentenced to life in prison without parole in the April 2012 attack. Cipriano avoided trial with the plea to a murder charge. A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing.
Young was convicted at trial of first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder and other charges. He also will have an opportunity to address the court.
"You might hear from him, but I'm not 100 percent certain," said his attorney, Michael McCarthy.
According to authorities, the young men broke into the family's Farmington Hills house, intending to rob the home before fleeing the state. Their attorneys have said they were under the influence of synthetic marijuana. The attack killed Robert Cipriano and injured his wife, Rose, and their son, Sal.
Published: Wed, Jul 24, 2013


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Dear Colleagues, Friends and Students,
Welcome to my website. Through this device, I invite colleagues and friends of various academic background to share with me experiences and knowledge on current issues such as education, languages, culture, religions and politics as well. With other academics, I want to open discourses in much wider scopes and perspectives in terms of the topics and the persons involved. For my students of all levels, I provide with you a space where we can make interaction to deepen and enlarge the discussion on the subjects I am responsible for. For my colleagues in the State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang (UIN Maliki Malang) where I am working, this Website also provides a special menu where I can deliver messages about the academic policy and information we need to response soon. Never hesitate to visit me in this virtual world. May God Allah the Almighty bless us all.
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After his star turn in Return of the Jedi, what should Jabba the Hutt have done next? Richard Kelly, director of mindbender The Box, has some good ideas.
Bonnie Burton interviewed Kelly, and discovered that he has some pretty fleshed-out ideas for where Jabba should appear next. Could these be the seeds of Kelly's next project?
Kelly confessed that he loves Ewoks, and then said:
The Endor sequence in Jedi is my favorite part in any of the movies. If I was stranded on a desert island and I could only bring one Star Wars movie, it would be Return of the Jedi. The whole set piece with Jabba the Hutt and the desert sequence with the Sarlacc Pit are great. Salacious Crumb is one of my favorite Star Wars characters too.
Jabba is so disgusting. He's just this gigantic slug. And the coolest thing in The Phantom Menace is when you get to see Jabba's wife. In fact, I love to see a movie all about Jabba the Hutt being a gangsta. Or maybe a sitcom called The Hutts where it shows the crazy shenanigans and escapades of the Hutt family.
It could even be like The Sopranos where he just whacks other alien creatures, and executes people, and he leads this foul, hedonistic lifestyle. A Hutt show would be amazing. I want to see that! Do you think that would ever happen?
via StarWars.com (thanks Bonnie!)


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Antique Quilts: Classic Favorites & Modern Remakes
Create a new classic quilt by pairing your favorite pattern with reproduction prints that mimic the antique look. Or boldly take the pattern in a different direction with today's rich prints and solids.
Classic Blues
Add an element of mystery to your baskets by setting them against an assortment of solids in a range of similar tones. The diminished contrast makes the eye work harder to define the basket shapes.Related Links
Circle Upon Circle
Which one is older? The vibrant 1930s print quilt is the vintage version. The sepia tones of its modern remake prove that you can make new quilts that have an antique look. One advantage—we've updated the construction to simplify the process.Related Links
Log Cabin
A classic Log Cabin pattern gets an updated look when you exchange dots and stripes for darks and lights.Related Links
Links to Home
High contrast makes the Triple Irish Chain a geometric wonder when done in all solids. Muted florals soften the overall appearance, making the blue and pink trellises a gentler transition between blocks.Related Links
Vintage Stars
Scrappy stars on shirtings shine on a chrome-yellow background. The scrappiness was likely the result of making do with fabrics on hand.
A focal fabric can be the star of your quilt, too. In the modern remake, a stunning print steals the show as the stars recede.Related Links
Starry Night
Don't be fooled by the four-pointed stars. The center of each block is where four points come together. Careful color placement in adjacent blocks makes a star and checkerboard background appear.Related Links
Making Waves
Little things can make a big difference. The blue centers pop on the vintage version. But it's the tiny triangle-squares around the large-motif block centers that shout for attention in today's rendition. (Hint: It's the darkness of the fabric that makes the centers recede.)Related Links
Sailor's Voyage
Put a new spin on modern art by framing your blocks in dark print sashing and alternating the background colors. Or get ready to dive into your scrap bag for a remake of the antique version, where a single background unifies the look.Related Links
Antique Cheddar
Two-color quilts are the darlings of many antique-quilt collectors. But today's reproduction prints look nearly as authentic as the originals. Keeping the look scrappy fosters the illusion of a quilt from a bygone era.Related Links
Monkey Wrench
The strength of variety isn't limited to the blocks. Both quilts showcase scrappy Monkey Wrench blocks. But the modern version punches up the color play with multiple greens used in the setting squares and border.Related Links
Majestic Oak Reel
An antique appliqué quilt such as the one made with cream, red, and green fabrics—sewn all by hand—was a labor of love. Learn the secret to updating the look with fast-and-fusible machine appliqué and a bevy of beautiful batiks. Either way you make it, the results are stunning!Related Links
Get these patterns!
Visit your local quilt shop, newsstand, or
go online to purchase Antique Quilts: Classic Favorites & Modern Remakes. In addition to step-by-step instructions for every antique and modern quilt, the bookazine also includes close-up images, quilting diagrams, and alternate size charts.Related Links


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- This event has passed.
Insight Meditation
August 1, 2018 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 11:00 am on Wednesday, repeating until March 25, 2020
Join us as we enter the silence through a guided meditation that soothes the soul and calms the mind. Away from worldly distractions, one discovers the ground of being where a sense of equanimity, clarity and peace reside.
Weekly on Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon. Love offering.


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Did you hear? It's Valentine's Day! Love is in the air—along with dating horror stories and the crushing ennui of loneliness. Ugh. At least it's Friday. Let's all grumble about our mushy friends' mushy plans. Thanks to the internet, we can at least be alone together.
So come on in and tell us how you're observing, or ignoring, this made-up faux-romantic holiday. Or we can pretend this is just a regular ol' Friday and talk about the Olympics. What's your favorite winter sport? Mine's gotta be skeleton. Even the name is badass.


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
The Writings of Albert Gallatin, ed. Henry Adams (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1879). 3 vols. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1951,
Vols. 1 and 2 contain Gallatin's letters to people such as Jefferson, J.Q. Adams, and Henry Clay and Vol. 3 contains longer works such as speeches and reports on elections, the finances of the US, public lands, currency and banking, Oregon, the war with Mexico.
The text is in the public domain.
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.


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PANAMA CITY � Breathe. We did better than last year.
PANAMA CITY � Breathe. We did better than last year.
The Florida Department of Education released the first set of results of the 2012-2013 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test on Friday morning. Local school officials are proud Bay County school district�s scores show an upward trend.
Highlights of the district�s report includes third grade reading and math scores up by 1 percent from last year and writing scores for fourth and eighth graders up by at least a 10th of a point from last year.
�It shows what we�re doing is working and we�re very excited about it,� said Superintendent of Bay District Schools Bill Husfelt at a press conference on FCAT scores, held Friday at the district�s office.
�They�re not huge jumps�,� he said, noting had the scores shown a drop, the district would have been a lot more concerned. �� It just shows what we�re doing and how we�re working (with) the students is working,� he added.
However, the report also showed fewer district third graders passed the math portion of the test compared to statewide, while more of them passed in reading.
Click for statewide results
The superintendent looked at local scores as the barometer for the future.
�The trend is going up. Our third grade math and reading scores are increasing and that�s what we look for: a slow steady trend upward,� Husfelt said. �Math and reading go hand and hand. � You can�t do math well unless you read well. As our reading increases, our math should continue to increase.�
Scoring at least at level two in math and reading on a five-level scale, may determine whether a third grader is promoted to the fourth grade. The district will offering summer reading camps for third graders who did not pass the test.
Scores for FCAT writing for fourth, eighth and 10th graders were starkly lower than state average.
Husfelt said since standards for the test were raised in the 2011-2012 year, many counties are witnessing lower scores. He said the School Board will work with teachers and school administrators to strategize plans to deal with the learning curve.
�Raising standards is not a bad thing � when you raise standards it takes adjustments for students and teachers to get prepared for the newer level,� Husfelt said, noting from 2011 to 2012, scores showed a tremendous drop, but from 2012 to 2013, scores had increased.
�That�s the trends we�re looking for because we know � as long as we have the time � we can adjust and continue to meet the high standards that are set for us by the state.�
All test scores are due to be released no later than the week of June 8.
Writing scores do not determine whether students in fourth, eighth and 10th grade will be promoted to the next grade. However, the percentage of students who score a 3.5 and above plays a role in determining schools grades.
2012 and 2013 FCAT Writing Comparison
% = students who achieved a score of 3.5 and above on a 6.0 scale
Fourth grade 2012 2013
District: 36 48
State: 48 57
Eighth grade 2012 2013
District: 41 42
State: 52 54
Tenth grade 2012 2013
District: 50 46
State: 60 62


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A group of 10 Democratic senators are urging the Office of Management and Budget to carefully review the Department of Labor's fiduciary reproposal to ensure that it doesn't "directly conflict" with or "upend" the Securities and Exchange Commission's work on its fiduciary rule.
In an Aug. 2 letter to Sylvia Matthews Burwell, OMB's director, the senators–members of the Senate Banking and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees–say that while they believe the SEC is moving forward in crafting a fiduciary rule that adheres to the congressional mandate set out in Section 913 of the Dodd-Frank Act, the DOL's efforts to redefine fiduciary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act could work "at cross purposes" to the SEC's rule.
"We believe that Congress clearly intended that a single [fiduciary] standard should apply to retail accounts, including retirement accounts, based on specific guidelines enumerated in Section 913," the senators write.
While acknowledging that they don't know what the DOL's fiduciary reproposal will say, the senators cite DOL's 2010 proposal that they say could have caused "all broker-dealers that service individual retirement accounts to be ERISA fiduciaries, which would have as a practical matter eliminated meaningful investment services for millions of IRA holders."
Given OMB's role in "coordinating and streamlining" agencies' regulations, "we write to make you aware of the potential conflicts between these two regulations," the senators write.
While DOL is required to send its rule proposals to OMB, the SEC is only required to send final rules to OMB.
Once DOL's reproposed fiduciary rule is sent to OMB, which is expected in a matter of weeks, OMB then checks the proposal's cost-benefit analysis and gives DOL feedback on the proposal, asking for changes if necessary. DOL must then make the changes and have them approved by OMB before putting the proposal out for public comment.
At a minimum, the senators say in their letter, DOL should not issue "final" fiduciary regulations until the "SEC has completed its work" on its fiduciary rule and that "any regulation the DOL ultimately may propose should be carefully crafted so that it does not upend the SEC's work."
But exactly when the SEC will issue a fiduciary rule proposal remains uncertain. SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White told members of the Senate Banking Committee on July 30 that the agency was "focused" on completing a fiduciary duty rule proposal and that "it's important for me to get to wherever we are going on that [rulemaking] as quickly as we can."
However, while White said that the SEC is focused on the fiduciary rulemaking–which is not a mandatory rulemaking under Dodd-Frank–she noted the "full plate" of Dodd-Frank and the JOBS Act mandated rules that the agency must wade through and act on.
White also told the senators that she has met with senior officials at DOL regarding collaboration on both agencies' fiduciary rules and has directed SEC staff "to engage more actively" with DOL "to make sure they understand [the SEC's] perspective" on its fiduciary rulemaking.


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yarn, fibers or filaments formed into a continuous strand for use in weaving textiles or for the manufacture of thread. A staple fiber , such as cotton, linen, or wool, is made into yarn by carding , combing (for fine, long staples only), drawing out into roving, then spinning . Continuous filaments, such as silk, rayon, and nylon, may be formed directly into yarn or may be cut into short lengths and prepared like staple fibers. Yarns are twisted to give them strength and smoothness; a clockwise twist is known as the Z twist and a counterclockwise twist is known as the S twist. Two or more strands twisted together form ply yarns. In slub yarns areas are left untwisted to vary the diameter for ornamental effects. Complex yarns, such as bouclé and ratiné, are made by twisting together yarns of different tensions or diameters. The relation between the weight of the raw fiber of staple yarns and the yarn length is expressed by the yarn number; the finer the yarn, the higher the number. In filament yarns the yarn number, expressed in deniers, increases with the coarseness of the yarn.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Textiles and Weaving


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A cluster of controversy
IOWA CITY– Opponents of a proposed housing development along Newport Road in northern Johnson County left the county administration building disappointed Tuesday night in the wake of a 4-1 vote by the board of supervisors. A proposal to rezone 90.89 acres owned by Sharon Dooley, wife of the late Mike Dooley, from agricultural land to Rural Cluster (RC), was the subject of contentious debate in a public hearing as the board approved the change in a combined first and second reading. The board is expected to make the final approval this week, opening the door for real estate agent Bill Young to move forward on plans for a 70-unit housing development.
Over 30 people spoke in the crowded supervisors' chamber while up to sixty more people packed the hallway outside the room, watching on televisions. Dooley sat near the speakers' podium, frequently shaking her head in reaction to her opponents, some of them friends and neighbors. It was the latest skirmish in an on-going battle.
The Planning and Zoning Commission(P&Z) was deadlocked 2-2 in a Feb. 11 vote to deny the change, sending the proposal to the supervisors without recommendation. Commission members Robert Conrad and Shelli Meyer voted to deny while Julie Van Dyke and Robert Saunders voted to approve.
The proposed development would be the first under the county's RC designation, which was designed to take the place of zoning for single homes on large lots with multiple homes on smaller lots. R.J. Moore, the county's assistant planner, explained the large lots are not appropriate today. Previously, a 100-unit development would put one house on each lot. Under the new plan, 100 units could still be built, but instead would only use 50 lots.
"That's a good idea today," Moore said. "With our local foods initiatives, small farmers are looking for smaller parcels of farm land where they could have their house there too." Moore said the rural cluster is meant to allow the maximum density of housing units while only using half the ground. Moore also said the RC zoning is designed for environmental protection and to preserve farmland.
The Dooley property falls within the county's North Corridor Development Area (NCDA), where there is a stated emphasis on protecting agricultural land. Opponents of this development seized on the value of farmland, attacking what they felt was a miscalculated Corn Suitability Rating (CSR) and decrying the loss of land for agriculture in general. Greg Pickett quoted Moore as saying a CSR of 65 or greater on 30 acres or more qualified as prime agricultural land. Pickett said over 52 acres of the Dooley property meet this criteria, and served as but one example of how the proposal did not meet all qualifications.
"This is good farm land," agreed Doug Richou, also a Newport Road resident. "It is not meant for development."
"The stats all speak against it," said Iowa City resident and activist Tom Carsner. "Ag land is ag land is ag land. Who speaks for the land? Listen to the land. Listen to the people."
Glen Shima of rural Solon declared, "Let this be farm ground so long as it's farm ground. If this continues (developing farm ground), sooner or later, we're going to run out of food." Also giving an impassioned plea was Alisa Meggitt, another Newport Road resident. Meggitt educated the supervisors, saying 96 percent of the Earth is not suitable for agriculture, but that Iowa has 10 percent of the four percent that is. "You can never go back," she said. Meggitt also cited 26,000 acres of farmland being taken out of production each year in Iowa. "Urban sprawl costs us all," the North Central Junior High global studies teacher said. She noted she is a fan of the supervisors and reminded each one of their statements supporting the environment and agriculture. Meggitt urged them to live up to their promises and issued a call to protect all farmland.
"The number one concern of farmers," said Norm Ziskovsky of Swisher, "is farmland for the future." Ziskovsky, treasurer of the Iowa Cattlemen's Foundation, showed photographs of farm land and said it made him sick to drive through North Liberty and seeing more and more houses being built on flat ground with rich dirt. "Its destruction of ag ground," he said. "Once we can no longer grow crops, raise hogs and raise cattle, somebody's going to get hungry."
Wells and water usage was also a concern, particularly after last year's drought conditions. Jeff Peck, a Newport resident, acknowledged that people want to move to the country but lamented the loss of farmland. "Where does it stop?" he asked. Peck questioned the number of wells the development would need and said his neighbor's well went dry last year. He expressed grave concerns over the effects on the water table such a development would bring.
Supervisor Rod Sullivan asked Moore about wells and was told, that community wells are required, they must meet state requirements, and they cannot influence adjoining wells.
"Water is always an issue," Moore said.
Increased traffic on Newport road, long a concern of the area's residents, was also brought up. In 1999, Newport residents asked that plans to reconstruct the road be scrapped, touching off a lengthy legal battle. In 2003, the Secondary Roads Department proposed a new road through the North Corridor, that would bypass Newport Road but slice through a number of properties. This led to the residents banding together in opposition. In 2007, Larry Meyers was elected to the board of supervisors in support of preserving the rural character of the area. Eventually, Newport Road and Prairie Du Chein Road plans were removed from the county's 5 Year Road Plan.
An increase in traffic counts would, opponents argued, necessitate improvements to the road at the expense of the residents and county taxpayers in general. Peck told the supervisors he felt the latest traffic count was artificially low and in reality is over the threshold at which point improvements would be deemed necessary. Nick Sobocinski, who lives on Prairie Du Chein, called Newport Road, one of the last safe and scenic areas to ride a bike, and asked if avid cyclist and supervisor Janelle Rettig would feel safe with the current traffic, let alone the traffic the development would bring.
Where opposing a new road united the neighbors years ago, the rezoning request and proposed development has divided them. Friends and neighbors of Dooley stood inches from her as they took the podium and made their cases. Jim Sedlacek, who farms across Newport Road from Dooley and called her a friend, said he felt he was caught in the middle. Sedlacek said he drove through the area recently and marveled at the wide-open spaces, which would be filled with houses. "I heard the land cry-out," he said. "Do something, do something." Sedlacek told the supervisors.
Neighbor Amy Spencer made a plea on behalf of the late property owner Mike Dooley. "Mike fought for that farm," Spencer said. "The kids have grown up and they're gone, and Mrs. Dooley can't handle the farm. So, she wants to sell it. We need to keep the farmland a farm. I'm not willing to live next to a cluster."
Sharon Dooley's response was brief and to the point.
"Everyone here had the opportunity to purchase 40 acres of 'prime farmland,' as they put it. The opposition claims how important it is to preserve farmland, and this area. But no one would make that commitment." Dooley said her opponents have been "relentless in this obsession," and seem to think they know what's best. She and her family are still recovering from Mike's death last fall, she said. "I don't have time or strength for this kind of fight. The bottom line is, that I own this property, and as owner, I have property rights." Dooley asked the supervisors to look past the drama and look sensibly at the rezoning request. "MMS and Mr. Young have worked diligently to meet the requirements," Dooley said.
While most who spoke out were in opposition, some support came from speakers such as Bill Waldie, a former 28-year resident of the area. Waldie said protecting the beauty of the area with a cluster, makes sense, and feels the land use plan was put into effect to protect the area and keep farmland farmland while allowing some infill.
"If this proposal meets all of your requirements, is it appropriate to deny the rezoning request?" Waldie asked. "Is it fair to deny the landowner the most economic benefit they could gain from this land? If it does meet all requirements, and this is denied, what does that do for the county's Land Use Plan? Does it make it moot? Does it need to be amended?"
Gerry Gogel, a township trustee, said he was neither for nor against the proposal, but countered the opposition. He reminded the supervisors, "the U.S. is a republic, not a democracy. So, you're bound to follow the law here. If you don't like the law, either the board or the people should change it."
After public comments, it was time for the supervisors to ask questions and weigh in on the matter. Supervisor Terrence Neuzil directed his to Dooley.
"Do you want to do this to your land?" Neuzil asked.
"Nobody has worked harder, or loves this land more than I have," she replied. "But things change. It's not a matter of choice, it's what we have to do."
Neuzil told the crowd he would vote to approve the rezoning because the proposal meets the Land Use Plan. "The question really comes down to the give-and-take, the compromise I've given over 31 different amendments (to the Land Use Plan), and many of those clearly fall under this. For me now to say no, I don't think that's very honorable. I think it's a bit hypocritical for me to vote against something I've put my signature on for the last eight years."
"I think I've changed my mind at least 150 times over the past week or so," said supervisor Pat Harney. Harney said he's driven through the area multiple times and met with the neighbors. One farmer told him since the dam went in, the number of farmers in the area has dropped from 14 to just two. Harney also said he has concerns about the number of lots, but would go along with the Land Use Plan and approve the zoning change.
John Etheredge, in his first supervisor's meeting since his recent election to the board, was the dissenting vote. Etheredge enjoyed electoral support from the rural parts of the county, with a significant showing in Newport Township, and made opposing the Dooley development a plank in his campaign platform.
"This development will potentially take up practically every bit of growth that's available on that road," Etheredge said. Any additional developments would exceed the capacity of the road (traffic count) and, will bring on a road upgrade, a major undertaking by the county, he said. "Increasing the population out there, and doubling the capacity of the road, with one development, is not something I can support. Because, if this is in the growth plan, which it clearly is, how are you going to develop the rest of that?"
Supervisor Rod Sullivan explained his vote of support.
"Everything I've done since I've been here, eight years, has been about protecting the family farms. Sometimes, family farmers have fought with me about it because we have different ideas about how to get to the same goals," Sullivan said. In his opinion, protecting farmland was the number one goal of the Land Use Plan. Only about four percent of the county's land is in the approved development areas. "Are you going to tell people you can't ever build another house? There's a part of me that actually is not opposed to that. I want to preserve the farmland. But there needs to be somewhere you can go."
Sullivan said the NCDA was chosen for two main reasons: it was already pretty well developed, and the farm ground, in general, is worse.
"The whole time, we're thinking about agriculture as we're making this decision," he said. Sullivan expressed regrets to the Sedlacek and Stebral families, saying he had no good answers for them.
"Every other farmer in Johnson County does so unencumbered by development. Unfortunately, for these two families, they play by a different set of rules. They got a raw deal," Sullivan concluded.


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Our people are beautiful. Turkey is beautiful. But the system needs to be secular. This must be protected. If people from every faith interpret religion and say "Believe as I believe" then this would be very wrong.
Mr. Tayyip must be very careful about secularism. But my advice is; follow a spirit of the Mahdi that is full of love towards all thoughts and faiths, because look in the system of the Mahdi, there is no hadith saying "pray in this way" or "fast like this." There is perfect justice, perfect social justice, equality and economic prosperity. There is complete freedom, great security, a profound love, an amazing understanding of arts and great enthusiasm. People can pray whatever way they want. They can use headscarves if they want or wear something revealing. It would be wrong to have a dominance of conservative people with headscarves or a dominance of people and women who wear things more revealing. Everyone should live as they want and how they want.
There must be no intervention with the Internet, Facebook, Skype, people's faith, people's ideas and everyone shall be free. Religion would prosper in such an environment. Then even communists would pray if they wanted to.
When there is pressure, people's pride is harmed. A man who normally wouldn't drink begins drinking. You would cause a man who will perform the prayer to avoid the prayer. Things would get out of control. Pressure throws people off balance. For example, I look and women who stand there alone are generally women whose heads are not covered. Very rarely are there women who wear the headscarf. They are scared; "What if they make me wear the headscarf by force or what if there is peer pressure?." They want to be like that. They would cover their heads due to pressure. Think about the hatred it would cause. Think about the rage this would cause. They would be very disturbed. They would feel anger inside every moment. Why the need? People must be comfortable. Those who want to can go to the beach and those who want to can wear the burka. There must be complete freedom.
(June 21st, 2013, Adnan Oktar: A9 TV)2013-07-07 11:00:46


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Infibeam has introduced a wide range of wonderful gifts for this festive season. Infibeam's Christmas gift store promises to provide the best selection of products at the lowest prices.
The online Christmas gift store has everything that a festival shopper can think of. It carries an array of gifts ranging from Christmas wine, cakes, chocolates and candles to a tall Christmas tree. The store has handpicked combinations of gifts with flowers, cakes and chocolates, which would fit the wallet of all and look rich while being presented.
Commenting on introducing the festive range of products, Mr. Anish Parikh, Vice President, Category Management, Infibeam.com, said, "We are excited to offer the new range of products specially introduced for the festive occasion. The widest range of selection of products has been put up on the store for our customers to spend on the variety of gifts for friends and family at the best prices. We look forward to delight our customers with a wonderful gifting experience this Christmas. Not to wait to make the most of the 10% early bird discount on the Christmas Store along with the least price benefit"
Infibeam plans to enhance its product catalogue with the widest range of gifting products for different occasions round the year. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
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Got Net?
This story appears in the September 2000 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
Although it has been a turbulent year for dotcoms, there's still plenty of opportunity on the Web. The trick is knowing where to find it. Want a few hints? Here's a peek at 10 great Web businesses you can start today.
5. E-Billing
8. Web Hosting
Dotcom Delivery
You probably never imagined you could make your fortune by running around town, fetching things for people. But some of these urban gofers are making millions doing just that.
"People don't like to wait for things they order online to be delivered," says Ross Stevens, 30, chair, CEO and co-founder with CTO Mike Prindle and vice president of strategic development Fred Tausch of Urbanfetch Inc. "We saw a huge opportunity to provide a service where you can get things the same day, or even [the same] hour," says Stevens.
Currently, the New York City-based company offers free one-hour delivery on a variety of items, from bagels to electronics, throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights. It hasn't taken long for the idea to catch on among busy New Yorkers: The company has only been making deliveries since October 1999 and already expects to earn sales of about $30 million this year.
Urbanfetch defines itself as an online shopping service. It warehouses inventory in low-cost areas of the city, allowing a cost savings not available to storefronts on Fifth or Madison Avenue.
Considering that the number of home deliveries is expected to more than double by 2003, the field may offer ample opportunity for start-ups. Those with less logistical expertise, however, may do better with a more simplified delivery business. Christopher Kelley of Forrester Research believes start-up businesses should focus on delivering packages from a local mail hub to consumers' houses, or on establishing relationships with and delivering products from local businesses. Warns Kelley, "They should stay away from trying to be a retailer."
Selling Sports
Jupiter Communications reports that online sports content may be one of the most important new segments of the Web consumer marketplace.
Online consumers currently rank sports content among their five favorite online activities, and that translates into a big e-commerce opportunity. According to Jupiter, consumers will spend about $3 billion on sporting goods, apparel, footwear and event tickets in 2003.
If you want to get in on the game, one area to consider is women's athletic wear. Portland, Oregon-based start-up Lucy.com has quickly taken the lead in this niche. The start-up recently managed to secure $40 million in venture capital earlier this year. More good news: Jupiter expects sales of online apparel to hit $1.6 billion this year, and to leap to $7.8 billion by 2003.
Online Consulting
Have a strong background in consulting? You may want to take your skills to the Web. Online consulting offers clients advice via an Internet, rather than human, interface.
IDC predicts that online consulting will pose a significant challenge to traditional consulting firms, as the business model is well-suited to the changing Internet marketplace. Yet few large companies have stepped into this arena. Those that have, such as Ernst & Young and IBM, target enterprise clients and other larger businesses, leaving the small-business niche wide open for start-ups.
"A consultant who spent some years with a major firm could start an online consulting business, especially one that targets the small and middle market," says Sophie Mayo, program manager at IDC. She adds, however, that start-ups should plan to eventually add a face-to-face component to their services in an effort to build ongoing client relationships.
Online Auctions
Why should you thrust your business into the frenzied world of online auctions? Three words: eyeballs, eyeballs, eyeballs.
"It's really the lowest-cost avenue for start-ups to hook up with major players like eBay, Yahoo! or Amazon," says Sue Rothberg, senior auctions analyst with Lincoln, Massachusetts-based Gomez.com. "Putting your business on high-traffic sites like these allows you to build a brand and a customer base without having to do the marketing."
No need to sell 43-year-old Richard Birnbaum on the idea. He has doubled his sales since putting inventory from his Engelwood, New Jersey-based clothing business, Wearamerica.com, on eBay in January 1999. "There's no place you can advertise that's as cheap as eBay," he says.
Birnbaum says his 11 year-old wholesale company's first experiment with retail was eBay. "Over the course of the year, we've built a million-dollar retail business from nothing," he says. "Now we're doing about $1 million in wholesale and $1 million in retail."
Entrepreneurs who plan to venture into the auction space had better be committed to putting in the hours, Birnbaum advises, and should keep three to four months worth of inventory on hand at all times to maintain consistent sales volume. He says it also helps to work with an auction management service.
Just as home delivery is winning converts among the time-challenged, so are Web-based services that allow you to receive and pay your bills online. E-billing services make it possible for bills to be created, delivered and paid over the Net. IDC predicts worldwide sales for these services will jump from $32 million in 1999 to $1 billion by 2004.
CyberBills, which offers services enabling consumers to essentially click their bills paid, has developed a hybrid business model consisting of its branded consumer site-StatusFactory.com-and a set of business-to-business services it offers to portals, banks, brokerage houses and other companies that want to brand their own e-billing services. Co-founder and CEO John Simpson, 34, has found these services to have more sales potential than just the consumer portal alone, because most consumers are more comfortable handling financial matters through recognized institutions. Companies reselling CyberBills' services include Intuit and AOL.
Simpson says e-bill payment services may be hard to break into at this stage of the game, as many of the early movers have tied up relationships with the larger institutions. He suggests start-ups may do better as resellers of existing bill payment services they can offer to their online customers, primarily as a way to keep customers coming back to their sites.
"This market is still in its infancy," says IDC's e-commerce manager Albert Pang, "but it has the potential to blossom into a staggering opportunity."
Virtual Healthcare
Online health is becoming big business, and it's likely to explode over the next few years. Jupiter Communications reports online health sector sales should soar from $200 million in 1999 to $11 billion by 2004.
At the same time, a Jupiter study indicated that 49 percent of respondents do not buy online because it's easier to buy pharmaceuticals at the local drugstore while doing other errands. This explains why sites offering traditional products have been floundering.
The start-up solution: providing health-care items you can't usually find in your local brick-and-mortar store. Selfcare.com in Emeryville, California, for example, attracts health customers with special needs to the Web by offering alternative and traditional health and wellness products for allergies, weight management and chronic pain. Anyone can go to the local drugstore and pick up some aspirin, but where in the world are you going to find a soy-milk-maker or a magnetic beauty mask?
Online Gaming
Much of the current wave of enthusiasm for the gaming industry centers around online gaming, which was responsible for $500 million in sales last year, largely due to the popularity of online role playing games like Sony's "Everquest" and Electronic Arts' "Ultima Online."
The future of this market depends on the widespread home adoption of broadband-DSL or cable modems. IDC predicts that, by 2003, nearly a third of U.S. homes will have broadband Internet access, which is good news for start-ups that can get in now and hold on for a while.
Unfortunately, the competition is stiff in an industry dominated by behemoths like Microsoft, Sega and Sony. Chances are, start-ups looking for an in will have better luck taking a b2b approach. New York City-based Gamegate.com, for example, makes more than $1 million in annual sales developing online Java Internet games for Microsoft, SEGA, Star-media, AOL Europe and Infospace.com.
Web Hosting
The future looks bright for Web hosting. "We're projecting growth in that area from about $1.4 billion at the end of 1999 to $19.8 billion in 2004," says Forrester senior analyst Jeanne Schaaf. "It's a huge opportunity."
But is this a good opportunity for start-ups? "It's not for someone who knows nothing about Web hosting, Web architecture, Web servers and networks," says Schaaf. "This is a high-tech business that's going to demand high-tech skills."
In other words, contrary to popular opinion, it's not as easy as throwing a bunch of servers in a room and expecting the company to run itself.
Don Fredrickson, co-owner and CEO of ISP got.net, brings in about $1 million in annual sales. He plans to expand his Web hosting activities from its current level of 15 percent of his business, to as much as 70 percent of his business over the next four years. Fredrickson says that while high-profile and enterprise-level clients are flocking to data centers that charge between $5,000 and $10,000 per month for 24/7 hosting service, many smaller businesses are looking for a less costly, but still trustworthy, alternative. Fredrickson, for example, charges about $20 per month for his basic hosting service, and $300 a month for co-locating a company's server in got.net's facility.
Fredrickson adds that entrepreneurs will be especially successful if they have an area of expertise. "People looking for hosting will start coming to you," he says, "because you'll build up a reputation in that area."
Shopping Portals
IDC reports that, by 2003, 500 billion people will spend more than $1.3 trillion online. For shopping portals, that means lots of traffic, leading to generous ad and affiliate sales for sites that can attract the most, and the right, eyeballs.
A shopping portal is a site offering a collection of gateways to various online stores and services. According to Charlene Li of Forrester Research, the biggest portals-Yahoo!, AOL and MSN-will grab about 40 percent of the market in 2004. The rest of those ad dollars ultimately will go toward vertical portals that specialize in just one type of niche or content site.
For start-ups, the clear message is, "think vertical." One promising area is online sales of office supplies to small businesses. Sites like works.com and BizBuyer.com are bringing start-ups together to build purchasing clout. This provides them with access to low-cost business supply deals usually offered only to larger companies. These companies are also working to automate small-business purchasing practices. For entrepreneurs, this type of business makes sense for two reasons: 1) Forrester predicts the market for office supplies will grow from $2.9 billion in 1999 to $6.4 billion in 2000 and 2) as a small business, you'll certainly know your audience!
Finding Your Niche
With so many major players in the field, it can be a tricky business for start-ups to break in . . . unless you can find a specialty market and offer your customers a little something extra. Just ask 37-year-old Philip Kaskawits, co-founder of Textbookhound.com, a New York City-based site that enables students to find and compare prices for college textbooks. Unlike many other shopping search services, Textbookhound. com's custom designed search engine allows students to enter and search for multiple books at one time. Kaskawits and his partner, Eric Borgos, plan to work with schools to allow professors to list their curricula on the site, further simplifying students' textbook searches.
Much of Textbookhound.com's sales come from affiliate sales: Amazon or Barnes & Noble will pay the company a percentage of sales that come through their sites. Kaskawits says that, unlike many other comparison shopping sites, Textbookhound.com doesn't list stores in order of which ones give the company the best return, but according to the lowest price for the customer. "We try to be different that way," he says. "You don't have to think of the next best thing. Take something that's out there, pick your niche, and do a better job than anyone else."
Julie Vallone is a San Francisco Bay area writer. Her work has been featured in a variety of publications, including Entrepreneur's Start-Ups, Investor's Business Daily and Salon.com.
Contact Sources
- Forrester Research (Christopher Kelley), (617) 613-6025, email@example.com
- Forrester Research (Jeanne Schaaf), email@example.com
- Urbanfetch Inc. , www.urbanfetch.com


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Submitted by Thomas Mercer-Hursh on Sun, 02/01/2009 - 16:48
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Companies not ready for full transformation can often benefit from a stepwise migration to a Service-Oriented Architecture. CI assists by guiding the installation of an Enterprise Service Bus backbone, identifying initial projects, and mentoring in techniques for repackaging existing code as services on the bus.
With a sound architectural foundation, significant movement toward SOA can be achieved at a modest increase in cost over current budgets, eventually leading to more complete transformation of subsystems.
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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
During TechEd 2011, Microsoft announced an important update to its BI roadmap. The reason why this is important is related to the previous announcement, which I discussed in November 2010 by including links to several sources and comments. At PASS Summit 2010 the announcement regarding the next version of SQL Server, codenamed "Denali", caused a lot of discussions because it seemed that there would have been a "competitive" version of Analysis Services that would have been required existing projects made in UDM to be not upgradable to the "new model". And someone wondered if the lifecycle of UDM (Unified Dimensional Model, which is run by the MOLAP engine) started a descending curve.
In these months, I've been involved in many discussions with the development team with other partners, influencers and MVPs. What was a perception at that time was founded on some concrete facts: there was no plan about merging these technologies or providing any type of migration paths. Many worries about a possible end of UDM was not based on reality (the number of SSAS adopters is still growing every day) but the perception of a lack of commitment by Microsoft on UDM was the real issue. Many people asked for a change in this direction, looking for a converging path between these two technologies.
Based on my experience, I know that there are BI problems that need a multidimensional approach, but there are other problems that better feet with a more "traditional" relational approach. In the middle, a very large number of problems can be solved by both approaches at the same cost and with similar performances. These two worlds were separate: each one had its own tools, languages, data models and so on. And they would have been separated also in the future, based on the understanding everyone had with the previous roadmap.
Now, Microsoft is raising the bet on its Business Intelligence platform. These two worlds will grow together and we'll see a convergence towards a componentized approach where every technology for every layer of the solution will be able to interact with the other components. In other words, the same client tool will be able to query any model, regarding of the technology used to implement it (either relational or multidimensional). From the user perspective, this means that Excel will be able to query any relational or multidimensional model, and the same will be true for the new shining Crescent tool! From the architectural perspective, any existing investment on any technology will be preserved. For the large number of scenarios where either models can be used, you don't have to choose between a mature technology (UDM) that is not supported by modern tools (Crescent) and a new technology (Vertipaq) that misses some advanced feature (tool dimensions?) your user might expect in the solution because it was present in other solution he used in the past.
Thus, we'll have a single unified model, called BI Semantic Model (BISM). BISM will have two technologies to model data: the Multidimensional one (formerly known as UDM) and the Tabular one (that will be an enhancement of the current PowerPivot data model experience). You will have two languages, MDX and DAX, to define business logic and to query the model. And you will have two engines, MOLAP and Vertipaq (with their corresponding counterpart for accessing data in passthrough mode, ROLAP and Direct Query). The great and wonderful big news is that in BISM it will be possible to combine these components as you need: DAX query over a multidimensional model, MDX Script over a Tabular, and any client able to access to any model.
This is a great and ambitious vision. It might seem complex. But there is no silver bullet in this world, when you have to implement a real solution, you have to face different requirements and up to day nobody found a single technology that can be used for any needs. Implementing this vision in its completeness will require several years and its first release in Denali will not offer the full flexibility that has been promised. But the new commitment stated by Microsoft about this vision is what many partners were looking for. Their investments, and the investments made by their customer, will be preserved with this roadmap and any data model created in the past (and also today) will benefit in the future by the appearance of new tools and new products. Without requiring a complete rewrite of the solution and a complete retraining of their resources. In a competitive world and in a complex economy phase, this is definitely the most important message of this announcement.
As usual, we'll have to wait for the concrete bits of Denali and of the following releases to see if facts confirm the words. But I have many signs confirming that also the facts are really going in that direction. I will write more technical posts about the implication of this announcement in the future, especially after I'll be able to talk publicly about technical details that are now under NDA. In the meantime, you can also read this very interesting comment written by Chris Webb. And, of course, you can comment my post with sharing your perception - I'm interested in getting your feedback!
"and the same will be true for the new shining Crescent tool" and "The great and wonderful big news is that in BISM it will be possible to combine these components as you need: DAX query over a multidimensional model, MDX Script over a Tabular, and any client able to access to any model."
Wonderful! Great! :)
(sometimes is hard to be under NDA :-)
Very good information Marco and thank you for sharing. I, like many others, rely on you, Vidas, Chris Webb and others for great information like this. Its going to be very interesting on which model to use for clients as requirements for a project's first releases are usually not so complex, but that intensifies over time and wondering if you go down the tabular road will it become limiting and ultimately have to be switched to UDM (Complex Calculations Come to Mind).
Thanks again.
Hi Marco,
You have mentioned " DAX query over a multidimensional model, MDX Script over a Tabular"
I feel it should be the other way round. DAX over tabular and MDX over Multi dimensional.
Siddharth Mehta
I think the goal of Microsoft is to let you use DAX over a multidimensional model and MDX over a tabular model. Basically the vision is to let you whatever "language" you know against whatever "model" you have.
It is an ambitious goal and I hope they can pull it off.
Siddharth, I'm not wrong, Alan is right.
For this reason this is a big news.
However, don't expect all the combinations to be available in the Denali release.
What can be in the future is just a speculation. MDX over a tabular model still seems possible due to Vertipaq, but using DAX over dimensional model is a real challenge in terms of roll out from MS and adoption by users.
Anyways, thanks for sharing your views.
this is not a speculation but a precise Microsoft statement.
Look at slide 11 of DBI206 presentation from T.K. Anand - http://northamerica.msteched.com/
It is a dedicated slide just for this scenario. DAX query over a finance model running on MOLAP engine.
As Chris announced in his blog, some of the sessions from the SQLBits 8 in Brighton are already available
The Analysis Services team just posted a blog entry with a few useful links to jumpstart your experience
This shift away from UDM will really rock my BI world. I'm still in shock :)
Have you heard of any tools for converting UDM to BISM?
If you have a working model in UDM, keep in in UDM.
I attended a Denali Community Info session the other day where the speaker asserted that Crescent tool will only work with the Tabular verison of BISM, initially at least, and that Multidimensional function is on the roadmap, but without a timetable - any word on this?
Microsoft announced that BISM Multidimensional will support query made with DAX. This will enable Crescent (now called Power View) to query existing multidimensional models.
They said that this support will be enabled after RTM but before next SQL Server release (usually 18 months). But I hope it will happen very soon after RTM!


text: Jan 17, 2014 Agilysys Introduces Innovative Mobility Option for InfoGenesis POS ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Agilysys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGYS), a leading provider of innovative hospitality software solutions and services, today announced InfoGenesis Flex, a new mobility solution that offers full point-of-sale functionality on the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2. InfoGenesis Flex provides a sleek and modern alternative to traditional POS installation and rounds out the Agilysys technology offering to food and beverage outlets, which includes mobile point-of-sale, inventory and procurement and workforce management solutions. Built around the award-winning InfoGenesis POS system, InfoGenesis Flex can be leveraged as a slim fixed terminal or used as a convertible simply by removing the tablet from its base and going mobile. In outlets with limited space or no access to power, running InfoGenesis POS on a kiosk or in a stall with the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 is an ideal solution. "The power of InfoGenesis POS running on the new Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 gives users exceptional flexibility and reliability, so they can work in a wide variety of settings," said Larry Steinberg, chief technology officer at Agilysys. "We offer a full range of POS solutions, with deployment options that fit each user's unique requirements. With the introduction of InfoGenesis Flex, Agilysys transforms point-of-sale into point-of-service anywhere on property, allowing hospitality venues to create lasting and memorable connections with guests while also optimizing workflow and increasing revenue." Agilysys offers a comprehensive and tightly integrated solution suite for food and beverage outlets that includes the InfoGenesis POS system, InfoGenesis Flex and the Eatec® inventory and procurement system. About Agilysys Agilysys is a leading developer and marketer of proprietary enterprise software, services and solutions to the hospitality industry. The company specializes in market-leading point-of-sale, property management, inventory & procurement and mobile & wireless solutions that are designed to streamline operations, improve efficiency and enhance the guest experience. Agilysys serves casinos, resorts, hotels, foodservice venues, stadiums and cruise lines. Agilysys operates extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia, with corporate services located in Alpharetta, GA, EMEA headquarters in Cheshire, UK, and APAC offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. For more information, visit www.agilysys.com. Contacts PR: Agilysys Beth McClure, 805-692-6356 firstname.lastname@example.com Source: Agilysys, Inc. Posted in Press Release


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With 0.02% accuracy and 1MHz bandwidth, the WT3000 delivers where the highest precision measurements are required. It is the industry standard for R&D work on inverters, motor drives, lighting systems and electronic ballasts, UPS systems, aircraft power, transformer testing, and other power conversion devices.
The PZ4000 is designed for High Frequency Power Measurements as well as Transient Power Measurements. Its real-time acquisition system can perform cycle-by-cycle power measurements. One to Four input elements offer Basic Power Accuracy of 0.2% with 2 MHz Bandwidth and 5MS/sec digitizing rates.
The High-end WT1600 is designed for a wide range of applications, from energy-saving to large load applications. The WT1600 has a six element input capability to provide maximum flexibility, and Basic Power Accuracy of 0.1% with 1 MHz Bandwidth.
The WT1800 Power Analyzer offers maximum flexibility with up to six wattmeter elements, high bandwidths, simultaneous high speed digitizing, and wide voltage and current ranges. Although this model is still available, the newer WT1800E offers higher accuracy.
The WT2000 digital powermeter series has been designed with emphasis on basic performance (bandwidth, accuracy, response speed, and noise immunity) from the viewpoint of measurement of electrical quantities. The broad range of functions of these power analyzers enable them to be used in various fields of applications.
Measure characteristics of devices that generate, transform or consume electricity. Also called power meters or wattmeters, these devices measure parameters such as true power (watts), power factor, harmonics, and efficiency.


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The 32nd Hope College Run-Walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, in conjunction with the college's Homecoming Weekend.
The 32nd Hope College Run-Walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, in conjunction with the college's Homecoming Weekend.
The event, returning after a one-year hiatus, is sponsored by the Born Clinic in cooperation with the college's department of kinesiology.
In addition to the running and walking activities, there will be a health seminar and health fair open to both participants and spectators.
° The 3,200-meter (two-mile) prediction walk will begin at 9 a.m. at the DeVos Fieldhouse and travel through the Hope campus. The 10 best predictions, estimating the amount of time the competitor will require to complete the walk, will win a Hope prize package.
° Competitive runners will participate in a 5,000-meter (3.1-mile) run beginning at the DeVos Fieldhouse at 9 a.m. and continuing to Windmill Island. Age group awards will be given for the run (14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 and over).
° A health fair display will be featured in the DeVos Fieldhouse from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Dr. Tammy Born, D.O., will present a health-related seminar from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the DeVos Fieldhouse.
A T-shirt will be provided for participants who register by Friday, Oct. 1, but entries will be accepted on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 8 a.m. Competitors may dress and shower at the DeVos Fieldhouse.
The registration fee is $10 for each competitive event. Registration forms are available online at http://myhope.hope.edu/s/425/images/editor_documents/RunWalk.pdf as well as at the kinesiology office in the DeVos Fieldhouse, which can be called at (616) 395-7070.
The DeVos Fieldhouse is located at 222 Fairbanks Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets.


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Sold out
Large Woman In Prayer Totem - Tea Light Holder II
Ceramic Woman in Prayer Totem
This piece is hand sculpted from a beautiful chocolate earthenware clay, underglazes are then carefully applied to accentuate her details, the piece is then bisque fired, after the first firing the item is dipped in a clear glaze solution then fired a second time for a clear glossy finish, then the 22k platinum lustre details are added and it is fired for a third and final time.
Measures approx 20cm tall and 9cm wide
All pieces are signed on the bottom in my initials and year.
All items are shipped via Australia Post with tracking added for peace of mind!


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Watch and Discover: ELS/Chicago at Dominican University
12月 20, 2017 2:00 下午
In "Discover: ELS/Chicago," students and staff share their experiences at the ELS/Chicago Center, on the beautiful and safe Dominican University campus, just 30 minutes from exciting downtown Chicago.
In the summer, students can attend music festivals and concerts at Millennium Park and Grant Park. In the winter, the same parks are transformed into glittering ice-skating rinks below The Bean.
While at the ELS/Chicago Center, students learn English from "very supportive teachers" and take advantage of additional help outside of the classroom.Dominican University's 30-acre campus is located within a tree-lined residential neighborhood. The university's diverse student body includes international students from 16 countries, and averages 16 students per class – allowing students personal attention in the classroom.
Learn more about ELS/Chicago!
Learn more about Dominican University!


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Tagged: Bobcat Goldthwait
The RSBS Podcast, Episode 5: Bonilla's Bonus Button… and Other Stuff
And so in this Podcast…
Jeff, Al & that rock-n-rollin-Cub-lovin' sage Johanna Mahmud take on all things 'Merica, including (but not limited to) Rinku and Dinesh, Carlos Zambrano, The Hills (seriously? that happened?), the All-Star Game, the Lou
Piniella Mailbag and much,
much more… all to make you laughy-laughy!
– –
to the RSBS Podcast by clicking *HERE*
via iTunes by clicking *HERE*
thanks to Keith Carmack — our engineer, director, editor and
all-around sound guru. His Undercast
podcast is a must-listen (listen to it!). It's available on iTunes and
is posted regularly at Undercard
Recorded Monday, July 5, 2010


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Minn. Senate leader: Dayton plan won't dictate all
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says there's still room to discuss an expanded sales tax even though Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton intends to abandon that budget approach.
Bakk, of Cook, said Monday that the Senate Tax Committee plans to consider whether some services should be part of the sales tax mix. On Friday, Dayton announced he was moving away from his sales tax push amid widespread opposition.
Dayton will release a revised budget proposal this week. The Democratic governor says it will still include a call for a higher income tax on the top 2 percent of Minnesota earners, such as couples earning more than $250,000 a year.
Bakk, also a Democrat, says there will be "significant conversation" about whether a bigger pool of taxpayers should pay additional income taxes.


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Have you had bouts of dizziness or unexplained irritability? Perhaps you've been feeling lethargic, with fatigue setting in by the middle of the day, even before hitting the gym? Maybe, you're worried about your performance in bed? Believe it or not, all of these could be early signs of diabetes in men.
Type 2 Diabetes is a disease characterized by the body's inability to produce enough insulin. Sometimes, it could be the inability to use that insulin properly too. But, sometimes it could be a mix of both. If you've been feeling any of the above symptoms lately, chances are, your blood sugar levels are unstable. Research studies show that, biologically, men are more likely to get Type 2 diabetes, than women. But, this does not necessarily indicate that men are more vigilant about early symptoms.
"A 40-year old man had been feeling tired for a whole year. It was only when he began to go to the washroom every hour that he finally came to see me. When we ran his labs, his HbA1c was at 22! A lot of internal damage must have occurred from blood sugar for years," says Mahesh Jayaraman, Medical Researcher and Co-Founder of Sepalika.
Here's an important fact for you to chew on: Men, in general, tend to ignore early signs of T2D much more than women do. This is because of a tendency to bear it like a man. Often, symptoms of prediabetes are ignored as well. Prediabetes is a condition defined by slightly elevated blood sugar levels, that are not actually in the "dangerously high" range. Generally, men don't get to the doctor before they have full-blown diabetes. Trust us when we say this – It's not a good idea to ignore these symptoms of diabetes in men. Early detection and lifestyle changes make it so much easier and quicker to reverse prediabetes.
General Signs of Diabetes Type 2 in Adults
The risk for type 2 diabetes in men, typically, increases with age. In the absence of risks, testing should begin after the age of 45. The potential health complications of diabetes are often serious. Increased risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), cardiovascular disease, vision problems, neuropathy, skin infections and kidney impairment are a few. Not to mention, diabetes can also cause Erectile Dysfunction, along with several other urological problems.
There are specific early signs of diabetes one would notice in women too (including PCOS and other hormonal imbalances). Before we go into specific symptoms of diabetes in men, let's take a quick look at some of the general signs of T2D in all adults. These include, but are not limited to:
- A feeling of dizziness caused by fluctuating blood sugar levels
- Increased thirst and hunger
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue and excessive tiredness
- Blurry vision
- Skin Infections or sores that don't heal
- Numbness in the hands, and particularly, in the feet
- Unexpected weight loss
Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction
Diabetes and sex are more closely linked than you'd like to believe. Erectile Dysfunction is a common sign of diabetes in men. While women experience vaginal dryness, men are prone to erectile dysfunction. High blood sugar levels can reduce erectile sensitivity. So, you either can't achieve an erection or have difficulty maintaining it during sex. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that "Erectile dysfunction numbers in men with diabetes vary widely, ranging from 20 to 75 percent. Men who have diabetes are two to three times likelier to have ED than men who don't have diabetes. Among men with ED, those with diabetes may experience the problem as much as 10 to 15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Research suggests that erectile dysfunction may be an early marker of diabetes, particularly in men aged 45 and younger".
According to a study examining 1460 patients published in Diabetes Care in Feb 2002:
- 4% of the patients reported frequent erectile problems
- 24% reported occasional problems
- 42% reported no erectile problems
The researchers found that ED was associated with higher levels of diabetes-specific health distress and, worse, psychological adaptation to diabetes. These were, in turn, related to bad metabolic control. What's unfortunate is that a whopping 63% of the diabetic patients reported that their physicians had never investigated their sexual problems.
Why does this happen? High blood sugar levels affect blood vessels and nerves that are crucial for achieving or maintaining an erection. Complications progress when diabetes is left unchecked, much like the case in diabetic neuropathy. One common symptom among the two of these complications is that diabetic men lose sensation in the feet, or feel like they are walking on pillows.
Diabetes directly affects the Autonomic Nervous system (ANS) which controls the constricting and widening of blood vessels. Damaged blood supply to the penis hinders with:
- The ability to get proper blood flow into the penis to maintain an erection
- Stimulation and response of the nerves that achieve and maintain an erection
Diabetes and Retrograde Ejaculation
Retrograde Ejaculation or RE refers to a condition where semen travels retrograde into the bladder after deposition into the posterior urethra, following orgasm. This is very different from anejaculation or complete absence of ejaculate. Patients report cloudy urine following ejaculation. A post-ejaculatory urine sample is taken to confirm if sperm is present, to arrive at a clear diagnosis.
Studies have found that retrograde ejaculation can be a rare type 1 diabetes symptom in men. But, it is also seen in men who have type 2 diabetes. RE occurs when diabetic neuropathy causes the nerves controlling ejaculation to malfunction.
Diabetes and Urologic Problems
Besides sexual problems, there are other urological issues that can be early type 2 diabetes symptoms in men, for example –
- An overactive bladder or frequent urination.
- Urinary incontinence or the inability to control urination, though studies show that it occurs in only 1.5–5% of diabetic men versus the 10–30% of women who are diabetic.
- Urinary tract infections.
Itching of the genitals or around the penis is yet another symptom of diabetes in men. Elevated blood sugar levels weaken the immune system, making diabetics more prone to yeast infections. The kidneys try to excrete excess sugar from the body via urine. Bacteria and yeast thrive on sugar, so this environment is perfect for them to multiply.
It is Very Important to Discuss Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms in Men
Yes, type 2 diabetes symptoms that are related to sexual health are not easy to talk about. But as research shows, 20% to 75% of diabetic patients experience sexual dysfunction due to undetected (or uncontrolled) diabetes. A study from Iran also revealed that as many as 82.5% diabetics have reported experiencing at least one sexual dysfunction episode. We've also analysed that, 63% of the time, your physician may not actively discuss your sexual health when you visit him/her with other early symptoms of diabetes.
It's important that you talk to your doctor if you're suffering from ED or any other urological complication we've mentioned above. A simple diagnostic test could reveal if your blood sugar levels are unstable (which could most probably be the issue). Medication, as well as natural supplements, can ensure normal sexual function. Also, remember that these are not the only symptoms of diabetes. Make sure you see your doctor if you persistently have any of the common symptoms.
Please note: Overweight men are at a higher risk of having diabetes, as compared to overweight women.
This is because men tend to store more belly fat and this extra fat around the liver increases susceptibility to insulin resistance. Losing weight can make a huge difference in helping you reverse diabetes early. So, if you've noticed any of the above-mentioned signs of diabetes in men, do yourself a favour and get tested today.